Vermont State Senate

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Vermont State Senate
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Democrat
Session start:   January 3, 2024
Session end:   May 9, 2024
Term length:   2 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Legislature-dominant
Salary:   $811.68/week during session + per diem
Members
Total:  30
Democrats:  22
Republicans:  7
Other:  1 (Vermont Progressive)
0 (independent)
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
President:   David Zuckerman (D)
Maj. Leader:   Alison Clarkson (D)
Min. Leader:   Randy Brock (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Next election:  November 5, 2024

The Vermont State Senate is the upper chamber of the Vermont State Legislature. Alongside the Vermont House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Vermont state government and works alongside the governor of Vermont to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Vermont State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Vermont State Senate meets in the State House in Montpelier, Vermont.

  • All 30 seats in the Vermont State Senate were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Democratic supermajority increased from 21-7 with two minor party members to 22-7 with one minor party member.
  • All 30 Senate seats were up for election in 2020. The chamber's Democratic supermajority decreased from 22-6 with two minor party members to 21-7 with two minor party members.
  • Vermont has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.

  • This page contains the following information on the Vermont State Senate.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Vermont State Senate as of January 2024:

    Party As of January 2024
         Democratic Party 22
         Republican Party 7
         Vermont Progressive Party 1
         Independent 0
         Vacancies 0
    Total 30

    Members

    Leadership

    The Senate is headed by the lieutenant governor as the Senate president. The Senate president only votes in the case of a tie. More often, the Senate is presided over by the president pro tempore who also serves as head of the majority party.[1][2]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Vermont State Senate Addison District Christopher Bray Democratic January 9, 2013
    Vermont State Senate Addison District Ruth Hardy Democratic January 9, 2019
    Vermont State Senate Bennington District Brian Campion Democratic January 7, 2015
    Vermont State Senate Bennington District Richard Sears Democratic 1993
    Vermont State Senate Caledonia District Jane Kitchel Democratic 2005
    Vermont State Senate Chittenden Central District Philip Baruth Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Chittenden Central District Martine Gulick Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Chittenden Central District Tanya Vyhovsky Vermont Progressive January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District Irene Wrenner Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Chittenden Southeast District Thomas Chittenden Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Chittenden Southeast District Kesha Hinsdale Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Chittenden Southeast District Virginia Lyons Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Essex District Russ Ingalls Republican January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Franklin District Randolph Brock Republican December 27, 2017
    Vermont State Senate Franklin District Robert Norris Republican January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Grand Isle District Richard Mazza Democratic 1985
    Vermont State Senate Lamoille District Richard Westman Republican 2011
    Vermont State Senate Orange District Mark MacDonald Democratic 2003
    Vermont State Senate Orleans District Robert Starr Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Rutland District Brian Collamore Republican January 7, 2015
    Vermont State Senate Rutland District David Weeks Republican January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Rutland District Terry Williams Republican January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Washington District Ann Cummings Democratic 1997
    Vermont State Senate Washington District Andrew Perchlik Democratic January 9, 2019
    Vermont State Senate Washington District Anne Watson Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Windham District Wendy Harrison Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Windham District Nader Hashim Democratic January 4, 2023
    Vermont State Senate Windsor District Alison Clarkson Democratic 2017
    Vermont State Senate Windsor District Richard McCormack Democratic 2007
    Vermont State Senate Windsor District Rebecca White Democratic January 4, 2023


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $811.68/week during session$134/night for lodging and $69/day for meals

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Vermont legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.[3]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    The Vermont Constitution states, "No person shall be elected a Representative or a Senator until the person has resided in this State two years, the last year of which shall be in the legislative district for which the person is elected."[4]

    Historical party control

    Democrats won control of the Vermont State Senate in 1996. In 2022, they won a 23-7 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Vermont Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Vermont State Senate election results: 1992-2022

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
    Democrats 14 12 17 17 16 19 21 23 23 22 21 20 21 22 21 23
    Republicans 16 18 13 13 14 11 9 7 7 8 7 9 7 6 7 7
    Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 2 2 0

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Vermont was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: 1997-2000, 2011-2016
    • Republican trifecta: None
    • Divided government: 1992-1996, 2001-2010, 2017-2023

    Vermont Party Control: 1992-2024
    Ten years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D R R R R R R R R
    Senate D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
    House R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Vermont state senators serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Vermont holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2024

    See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2024

    Elections for the Vermont State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is August 13, 2024. The filing deadline is May 30, 2024.

    2022

    See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2022

    Elections for the Vermont State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2022. The filing deadline was May 26, 2022.

    2020

    See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2020

    Elections for the office of Vermont State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was May 28, 2020.

    Heading into the election, Democrats held a 22-6 majority with two progressive members. Democrats lost one seat in the election, giving them a 21-7 majority with two progressive members.

    Vermont State Senate
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 22 21
         Republican Party 6 7
         Vermont Progressive Party 2 2
    Total 30 30

    2018

    See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2018

    Elections for the Vermont State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on August 14, 2018.[5] The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2018.[6]

    In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the Vermont State Senate from 21-7 to 22-6.

    Vermont State Senate
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 21 22
         Republican Party 7 6
         Independent 2 2
    Total 30 30

    2016

    See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2016

    Elections for the Vermont State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 26, 2016. All 30 seats in the Vermont State Senate were up for election in 2016.

    Heading into the election, Democrats held a 19-9 majority with two progressive members. Democrats gained two seats in the election, giving them a 21-7 majority with two progressive members.

    Vermont State Senate
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 19 21
         Republican Party 9 7
         Vermont Progressive Party 2 2
    Total 30 30

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Vermont General Assembly, the governor must select a replacement to fill the vacant seat.

    The governor must select a replacement that will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no deadlines set by statute on when a vacancy has to be filled.[13][14]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Vermont Const. Chap. 2, Art. 45, Vermont Stat. Ann. tit. 2, §4, and Vermont Stat. Ann. tit. 2, §9

    District map

    See also: Vermont state legislative districts

    The Vermont State Senate includes 30 members elected in 13 districts.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Vermont

    Because Vermont has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature draws state legislative district lines with the assistance of an advisory commission. This advisory commission consists of the following members:[15]

    1. The governor appoints one member each from the state's political parties. To qualify for consideration in this context, a political party must have had "at least three state legislators for six of the previous 10 years."
    2. The chairs of the aforementioned political parties each appoint an additional member.
    3. The chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court appoints the commission's chair.

    Commissioners cannot be legislators, nor can they be employed by the legislature. The commission may make recommendations to the legislature, but these recommendations are non-binding.[15]

    State law requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact and that they "adhere to county and other political subdivision boundaries, except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements." In addition, state statutes specify that districts should account for "patterns of geography, social interaction, trade, political ties, and common interests."[15]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Vermont after the 2020 census

    Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed H722 on April 6, 2022, enacting new legislative districts for the state House and Senate.[16] The Vermont House of Representatives voted 129-13 to advance the state legislative redistricting bill on March 16.[17] On March 25, the Vermont State Senate unanimously approved H722, sending it to Scott.[18] These maps took effect for Vermont's 2022 legislative elections.

    District map after 2020 redistricting

    This map took effect for Vermont's 2022 legislative elections.

    VT Sen map 2022.jpg

    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Vermont after the 2010 census

    Vermont received its census data on February 10, 2011. The state grew by 2.8 percent. The most populous cities had mixed results: Burlington grew by 9.1 percent, Essex grew by 5.2 percent, South Burlington grew by 13.2 percent, Colchester grew by 0.5 percent, and Rutland decreased by 4.6 percent.[19]

    The 2011 redistricting process was notable for a push to eliminate nearly all of the state's multi-member districts. Though a preliminary plan that achieved this end was passed by the Board, its final plan from August 11, 2011, reduced the number of two-member districts from 42 to 29.

    The Legislature took up redistricting in January 2012. Despite disagreements over deviation from ideal district size (18.2 percent for the Senate and 24 percent for the House), the Senate passed and the House concurred with a final plan, H. 789. The plan added a new seat in Burlington, and paired incumbents Dennis Devereux (R) and Eldred French (D). Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) signed the maps into law on May 1, 2012.

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Vermont State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Vermont by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Vermont legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on May 9, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Vermont legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2023, and adjourn on May 12, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Vermont

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[28] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    The Vermont State Legislature, which the Senate is a part of, meets for biennial sessions starting on odd-numbered years on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January, pursuant to Section 7 of the Legislative Department of the Vermont Constitution. The opening date for even-numbered years is established by the sitting legislature during the year prior.

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-Democratic Party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Vermont are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 100 of the 150 members in the Vermont House of Representatives and 20 of the 30 members in the Vermont State Senate. Vermont is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

    In 1995, the Legislature began setting a date to consider veto overrides in its annual adjournment resolution. This allows the legislature to hold sessions where it can override vetoes that occurred following adjournment.[29]

    Authority: Legislative Department, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution.

    "Every bill which shall have passed the Senate and House of Representatives shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor; if the Governor approve, the Governor shall sign it; if not, the Governor shall return it, with objections in writing, to the House in which it shall have originated; which shall proceed to reconsider it. If, upon such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present of that House shall pass the bill, it shall, together with the objections, be sent to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of the members present of that House, it shall become a law."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Vermont state budget and finances
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    The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[30]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August or September of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
    2. Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in October.
    3. Agency hearings are held in October and November.
    4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in January.
    5. The legislature typically passes a budget in May. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.

    In Vermont, the governor cannot exercise veto authority over the budget.[30]

    The governor is not legally required to submit—and the legislature is not legally required to pass—a balanced budget.[30]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Vermont state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Vermont State Senate has 15 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Vermont Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Amendments of the Vermont Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Vermont

    Section 72 of the Vermont Constitution lays out the procedure governing changes to the Vermont Constitution. Vermont does not feature the power of initiative for either initiated state statutes or initiated constitutional amendments.

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required in the Vermont State Senate and a simple majority vote is required in the Vermont House of Representatives in the first legislative session. A simple majority vote is required in both chambers in the second legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 20 votes in the Vermont State Senate and 76 votes in the Vermont House of Representatives in the first session and 16 votes in the state senate and 76 votes in the state house in the second session, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

    Convention

    See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

    The Vermont Constitution, like that of several other states, does not provide for constitutional conventions. Perhaps as a result, Vermont's current constitution is one of the oldest in the country, having been adopted in 1793. The Massachusetts Constitution is the only older constitution.

    Although there are no provisions in the state's constitution governing the calling of a constitutional convention, in 1969, the Vermont State Legislature referred an advisory measure to the ballot which asked "Shall a Vermont Constitutional Convention be convened at the state house in Montpelier on October 6, 1969 to consider the following topics which shall receive a majority of the votes cast upon it in this election, and no others?" The question was rejected by the voters.



    2025 measures:

    See also: 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

    No measures to list

    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

    See also: 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

    No measures to list

    See also

    Elections Vermont State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Vermont State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. Vermont General Assembly, "Overview of the Vermont State Senate," accessed February 3, 2021
    2. State of Vermont, "Senate President Pro Tem," accessed February 3, 2021
    3. Vermont Constitution, "Chapter II, Section 46," accessed February 8, 2023
    4. Vermont Constitution, "Chapter II, Section 15," accessed February 8, 2023
    5. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed May 29, 2017
    6. Vermont Secretary of State, "Candidates," accessed September 14, 2017
    7. Follow the Money, "Vermont Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed August 2, 2013
    8. Follow the Money, "Vermont 2008 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
    9. Follow the Money, "Vermont 2006 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
    10. Follow the Money, "Vermont 2004 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
    11. Follow the Money, "Vermont 2002 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
    12. Follow the Money, "Vermont 2000 Candidates," accessed August 2, 2013
    13. Legislative Council of the General Assembly for the State of Vermont, "Vermont Statutes Unannotated and Vermont Court Rules," accessed February 3, 2021 (Statute, 2-1-4, Vermont Statutes)
    14. Legislative Council of the General Assembly for the State of Vermont, "Vermont Statutes Unannotated and Vermont Court Rules," accessed February 3, 2021 (Statute, 2-1-9, Vermont Statutes)
    15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 All About Redistricting, "Vermont," accessed April 22, 2015
    16. VTDigger, "Scott signs new legislative maps into law, solidifying Vermont’s political playing field for next decade," April 6, 2022
    17. VTDigger, "House advances redistricting bill by a wide margin," March 16, 2022
    18. VTDigger, "Senate unanimously approves new district maps with little debate," March 25, 2022
    19. U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Vermont's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 10, 2011
    20. Burlington Free Press, "Vermont Legislature to shut down for a week due to coronavirus concerns," March 13, 2020
    21. VT Digger, "Senate returns to Montpelier to approve remote voting measure," April 8, 2020
    22. Manchester-Journal, "Vermont economy to be legislative focus," accessed January 7, 2016
    23. WAMC, "Vermont Legislature Begins Second Half Of Biennium," accessed January 7, 2016
    24. Wilson Ring, The Washington Times, "Budget likely to top 2015 Vermont Legislature," January 4, 2015
    25. Vermont Chamber of Commerce, "Legislative Priorities 2014," accessed January 11, 2014
    26. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 19, 2011
    27. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 8, 2010
    28. Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
    29. Vermont Secretary of State, "Pocket Veto," accessed July 3, 2017
    30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2015," accessed February 9, 2023